daniel-p

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Posts by daniel-p

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  83

  Marijuana---Is It That Bad?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've never smoked tobacco or a joint in my life!

  i know some regular pot smokers and they're pretty cool people.

  they typically say pot is better than alcohol and that it should be completely legal.

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  daniel-p

  Actually marijuana is not addictive.

  Apparently, not everyone agrees: http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/
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  41

  I remember thinking 'why would I want anyone to change from being in the world to a JW?'

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did anyone else feel this way & if so, at what stage in your time as a jw?.

  i remember i must have been in the org for about 6 or 7 years.

  i was always trying to be the life & soul of the cong.

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  daniel-p

  I'm putting YOU down? You are the one who is constantly putting down others (YOU call it "challenging others"). Their intelligence, their beliefs, their motivations. You seem to know more about them from the limited knowledge than posts on a board like this can provide.

  You say my preference is "not looking foolish". How did you reach that conclusion? From ONE statement. How do you know, from that one statement. what my preferences are? If I was interested in "not looking foolish", then I wouldn't be here, on this board.

  So then your preferences are 'not being put down' and 'becoming great', is that correct?

  Now, here is something I want to reiterate: From being on boards like this, and my own personal experience, those who leave the JW's do NOT examine their current beliefs with the SAME CRITICAL EYES.

  I want to be challenged because I have learned that it's too easy to avoid inner conflict and avoid coming to "know theyself."

  Now, why can't we talk about the actual issues here, those which you ignore:

  I don't see how most ex-JWs don't gain a better sense of spiritual clarity. While you repeat that "those who leave do not examine their current beliefs with the same critical eyes," I just don't see this in most cases.

  I think this is because most of us, at some point, decided that this religion is corrupt at the highest levels and is led by false prophets, and that we would never turn back. So while we may look ahead, we're not going to waste time look back at the things behind, because we've already settled our own questions.

  Now, before I spend anymore time dicking around, can I ask if you are currently a JW?
• 
  37

  Balloon Boy Incident Hoax?

  by asilentone in

  1. social
  2. current

  your thoughts?.

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  daniel-p

  I bet the father set the whole thing up to draw more attention to his website.
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  41

  I remember thinking 'why would I want anyone to change from being in the world to a JW?'

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did anyone else feel this way & if so, at what stage in your time as a jw?.

  i remember i must have been in the org for about 6 or 7 years.

  i was always trying to be the life & soul of the cong.

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  daniel-p

  4. I have no problem saying "I don't know", which is more than I can say for many ex-JW's.

  Well, then why do you put down my admission of always looking for meaning? Isn't that being hypocritical?

  There are some answers, when questioned, can make you look like a fool.

  So here is where your preference lies: not looking foolish. I'd rather look like a fool looking for answers than sit back and be fed lies.

  Now, from my lurking for a few years, I've noticed that you, daniel-p, like to challenge people on their beliefs, but YOU do not like to be challenged.

  Maybe a sign of extreme insecurity?

  Or maybe a sign of that word you like to throw around, cowardice?

  Actually, I LOVE to be challenged. In fact, that's why I'm replying to you and carrying on this conversation. I love to be challenged, because that is where I can change and when I can become great. It's the people who sit back, comfortable with their beliefs borrowed from other men's fantasies, deriding those who confront doubt and swallow fear of the unknown and unknowable, who I despise. People who cannot challenge themselves or be challenged by others. If we can't challenge our own beliefs, if we can't face doubt, of what value is our mind and willpower? Nothing.

  Jehovah's Witnesses cannot even approach intellectual honesty. They can't even look themselves in the mirror when their consciences prick them gently, for fear of the cosmic void that is God and their own souls. Some of those who have left may have replaced what they knew of God with an equally arcane pantheon of beliefs, but at least they have achieved the authenticity of their soul, which is an impossible state among Jehovah's Witnesses. However, there are many more who have acquired, yes, the courage to make their life a monument to the mutability of meaning, while never turning back.
• 
  21

  10/05/09 Morning Worship – David Splane of the Governing Body conducted.

  by whereami in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  amazing story!

  you can really see jehovah's hand in all the activities below... .

  10/05/09 morning worship david splane of the governing body conducted.. .

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  daniel-p

  Splane is seriously deranged. All it takes is one talk of his to realize the guy is on Planet Zebes.
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  41

  I remember thinking 'why would I want anyone to change from being in the world to a JW?'

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did anyone else feel this way & if so, at what stage in your time as a jw?.

  i remember i must have been in the org for about 6 or 7 years.

  i was always trying to be the life & soul of the cong.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  daniel-p

  Jamie, someone who 'sees things with a wicked fine clarity' does not 'almost continually' search their current beliefs 'for meaning'.

  While we should examine our beliefs occasionally, to search them continually implies that, in fact, we are NOT very clear about our beliefs.

  Now DanielP's words quoted above imply that he does not see anything 'with a wicked fine clarity', EXCEPT that he is NOT really sure, which is why he is 'always on a search for meaning'. On that point, he is clear.

  Judge Dread

  1. I never meant to be clear on anything but that in the first place.

  2. Does someone inherently hold the high ground if they're firm in their belief? If so, why?

  3. The courage of ones' convictions can so easily be the cowardice of ones' mutability.

  4. Would you rather have questions you can't answer or answers you can't question?
• 
  41

  I remember thinking 'why would I want anyone to change from being in the world to a JW?'

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did anyone else feel this way & if so, at what stage in your time as a jw?.

  i remember i must have been in the org for about 6 or 7 years.

  i was always trying to be the life & soul of the cong.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  daniel-p

  Actually, what I have found is those who leave the JW's do not examine their current beliefs with the same set of critical eyes.

  Judge Dread

  I think most ex-JWs do examine and re-examine their beliefs because they don't want to be decieved again. I also think JW-sympathizers try to make it seem like ex-JWs are hypocrites in order to deflect their own intellectual dishonesty.
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  41

  I remember thinking 'why would I want anyone to change from being in the world to a JW?'

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did anyone else feel this way & if so, at what stage in your time as a jw?.

  i remember i must have been in the org for about 6 or 7 years.

  i was always trying to be the life & soul of the cong.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  daniel-p

  Do you, or have you analyzed your CURRENT beliefs?

  Judge Dread

  Yes, I do so quite often. Almost continually, in fact, since I'm always on a search for meaning. Is your question meant as an attempt to dismiss my point?
• 
  262

  Let the children decide.

  by angel eyes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, im putting my neck on the line here but ive always believed that children should be raised to make their own choice, if to serve jah or not.. i wasnt ever forced to believe in anything, any religion etc, although my background is very complicated.. anyway, hubby and i have always thought that how can a child decide if they dont know what other things are, ie birthday partys, halloween etc.

  so, our children are allowed to choose if to go places etc.

  last year our little boy said he didnt want to go to a halloween party, this year he said he might.

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  daniel-p

  "You cannot eat at the table of demons and the table of God (the WTS)."
• 
  41

  I remember thinking 'why would I want anyone to change from being in the world to a JW?'

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did anyone else feel this way & if so, at what stage in your time as a jw?.

  i remember i must have been in the org for about 6 or 7 years.

  i was always trying to be the life & soul of the cong.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  daniel-p

  Nice way to attract lurkers.

  Judge Dread

  Well, is it true, or not true? Some people have been so stripped of critical thought that they can suffer no rational criticism of their beliefs. Angel eyes is a perfect example of someone who has relenquished their critical thinking ability, and, therefore, the gift of intellectual freedom. At that point, what do you have? What are you? How much is life worth, when you've given up your ability to think for yourself?

  I respect people who hold religious beliefs, but it's hard to respect those who cannot analyze their own beliefs critically. Is there any excuse for cowardice?